Living the devout life

They heard a call for a distinctive life and answered it to live a life of service — of service to the people, to God and to the Catholic Church

For Abbot Charles Wright of the Prince of Peace Abbey, a Benedictine monastery and retreat center in Oceanside, living the devout life is all about "gaining," not sacrifice. "I did not take a leap that was any different from the leaps other people take. You take a leap when you get married. You take a leap when you join the Peace Corps. You take a leap when you become a parent. I never looked at it as a leap away from something. It was an assimilation into something larger than oneself."
— Sean M. Haffey

For Abbot Charles Wright of the Prince of Peace Abbey, a Benedictine monastery and retreat center in Oceanside, living the devout life is all about "gaining," not sacrifice. "I did not take a leap that was any different from the leaps other people take. You take a leap when you get married. You take a leap when you join the Peace Corps. You take a leap when you become a parent. I never looked at it as a leap away from something. It was an assimilation into something larger than oneself."
— Sean M. Haffey

The sacrificial life: “I don’t look at it as a sacrifice. It is a gaining. I did not take a leap that was any different from the leaps other people take. You take a leap when you get married. You take a leap when you join the Peace Corps. You take a leap when you become a parent. I never looked at it as a leap away from something. It was an assimilation into something larger than oneself.

“My favorite part of the day is after supper. We have recreation from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and that is my preferred time to be by myself. That means the work is over, but the communication with God that I should have had during the day can finally happen.”

Father Richard Brown, who has been a priest in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Barrio Logan since 1968, says living the devout life is what he's known for much of his life. “I was in the Merchant Marine, and I was laid up in the hospital with smallpox. I was in a big ward with 20 other guys, and they were talking about women and using dirty language, and I thought, ‘If I ever get out of here, I’m going to be a priest.’ I called Our Lady of Guadalupe and I said, ‘I am Richard Brown and I have a vocation to be a Jesuit priest.’ Sixty-six years later, here I am.”
— Howard Lipin

Father Richard Brown, who has been a priest in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Barrio Logan since 1968, says living the devout life is what he's known for much of his life. “I was in the Merchant Marine, and I was laid up in the hospital with smallpox. I was in a big ward with 20 other guys, and they were talking about women and using dirty language, and I thought, ‘If I ever get out of here, I’m going to be a priest.’ I called Our Lady of Guadalupe and I said, ‘I am Richard Brown and I have a vocation to be a Jesuit priest.’ Sixty-six years later, here I am.”
— Howard Lipin

Father Richard Brown

He officially retired in 2005, but when the doors to Our Lady of Guadalupe open for morning mass every day, it is 85-year-old Father Richard Brown who is opening them. A graduate of St. Augustine High School in San Diego, Father Brown has been a priest in the Barrio Logan parish since 1968. He has a passion for San Diego State basketball and football, and like Pope Francis, Father Brown is a Jesuit priest with an unflagging dedication to children and the poor.

“I love working with poor people because they have great dignity,” the priest says. “They appreciate everything you do, and they never forget you. It’s pure love.”

On getting the call: “I was in the Merchant Marine, and I was laid up in the hospital with smallpox. I was in a big ward with 20 other guys, and they were talking about women and using dirty language, and I thought, ‘If I ever get out of here, I’m going to be a priest.’ I called Our Lady of Guadalupe and I said, ‘I am Richard Brown and I have a vocation to be a Jesuit priest.’ Sixty-six years later, here I am.”

A day in his life: “I get up at 3:45 in the morning. I come here and open up the church. I always do early Mass. After Mass, I visit the school or our other campus, or I’ll have a funeral. I go to Ralphs and buy the groceries for the (parish) house and for myself. I take a one-hour nap every afternoon. I’m in bed by 7:30.

“For praying, I do morning meditations for 30 minutes before Mass. At noon, I have a short little prayer. I say the rosary every day and I have nighttime prayers. If you don’t pray, you’re in trouble. You are person of God, and you have to have constant connection with God. God is always listening. God is always waiting for you.”

The sacrificial life: “The priesthood is not a sacrifice, and I’ll tell you why. A vocation of the priesthood comes from God, and if he’s going to call you, he will give you the graces necessary to do it. Celibacy is a gift from god. Either you have it, or you don’t. If you have trouble with celibacy, you probably aren’t meant to be a priest.